Short Answer Questions

4. Who are the surprised guests who arrive at the house the morning of the funeral?

5. What does Laurel hope is in bloom at her mother's grave?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare Fay to Laurel's mother. Do they have any similarities? What are they? How are they different? Why did Judge chose to marry each of these women? Did Judge love these women? How did these women affect Judge's life?

Essay Topic 2

Laurel burns a bunch of her mother and father's papers before she leaves for Chicago. Why does Laurel do this? Who is she trying to protect? What does Laurel think Fay might do with the letters? Is Laurel hiding something or protecting something? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Who was the dominate person in Judge's relationship with Fay? Why? How did Judge's friends and family feel about this relationship? Why? How did people around Judge feel about Fay? Why do they believe he married Fay? Could they be correct? How does Laurel feel about this relationship between Judge and Fay? Does Laurel also believe what the neighbors believe about Fay? Did Judge's relationship with Fay contribute to his death?